China Detains Prominent Underground Church Leader in Widening Crackdown on Religious Groups
Chinese authorities have detained Pastor Jin Mingri, the founder of one of China’s largest underground churches, along with more than 20 members, in what observers describe as part of a sweeping nationwide crackdown on unregistered Christian movements.
Jin, who also goes by the name Ezra, founded the Zion Church in Beijing in 2007. He was arrested at his home in Guangxi Province on Friday, according to his daughter Grace Jin and one of the church’s pastors. Several other church leaders across major cities — including Beijing, Shanghai, and Zhejiang — were reportedly taken into custody the same night.
According to an official detention notice verified by AFP, Jin is being held on suspicion of the “illegal use of information networks.” The Zion Church said at least seven pastors, including Jin, may face criminal charges for the “illegal dissemination of religious information online.”
Police reportedly searched the pastors’ homes, seizing computers, mobile phones, and church materials.
“This is a blatant attack on religious freedom,” Jin’s daughter Grace said.
Since Thursday, police have detained Zion members and pastors across Shanghai, Beijing, Zhejiang, Guangxi, Shandong, Sichuan, and Henan, according to a list compiled by church members. Four people have reportedly been released after interrogation, but many others remain in custody — with lawyers barred from meeting them, Grace said.
“We are not criminals; we are just Christians,” said Sean Long, a U.S.-based Zion pastor in contact with families of those detained. “We pray for the best but have to prepare for the worst.”
Zion Church, one of China’s most influential unregistered “house churches,” was shut down by authorities in 2018 after repeated pressure on its 1,500-strong congregation. Despite the closure, the church continued to grow through online services on Zoom and small, private gatherings across 40 Chinese cities — activity that reportedly drew renewed government scrutiny.
“The government sees Zion’s persistence as an embarrassment,” Long said. “They tolerated it for years, but 2025 seems to be the time they’ve decided to strike harder.”
The latest wave of arrests follows a broader pattern of suppression against independent Christian groups.
In May, Pastor Gao Quanfu of the Light of Zion Church was detained on charges of “using superstitious activities to undermine the implementation of justice.”
In June, several members of the Golden Lampstand Church were jailed for fraud, with Pastor Yang Rongli sentenced to 15 years in prison, according to Zion Church’s statement.
While China’s constitution nominally guarantees freedom of religion, authorities maintain strict control over all religious activity. Worship is permitted only through state-sanctioned churches, where Communist Party teachings are often integrated into sermons.
Since 2022, Beijing has banned online religious services without government approval. Last month, it introduced new rules further restricting religious content on social media, explicitly prohibiting preaching via livestreams, short videos, or online group chats on platforms such as WeChat.
The United States condemned the arrests on Sunday, calling for the “immediate release” of all detained church members.
“This crackdown further demonstrates how the Chinese Communist Party continues to target Christians who refuse state interference in their faith,” said U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a statement.
Asked about the detentions, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said he was “not familiar with the situation” but insisted that Beijing “firmly opposes U.S. interference in China’s internal affairs under the pretext of religious issues.”
From her home in the United States, Grace Jin said she and her mother have been unable to contact her father since his arrest.
“We’re worried and scared, but not surprised,” she said quietly. “Growing up in China as a Christian, you always know something like this could happen.”
